Refoldable cellular carton and blank for forming same



April 24, 1962 Filed Jan. ll, 1960 P. L. BUNDY ETAL REFOLDABLE CELLULAR CARTON AND BLANK FOR FORMING SAME '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 @s QZamt' ATTORNEY INVENTORS April 24, 1962 P. BUNDY ETAL REFOLDABLE CELLULAR CARTON AND BLANK FOR FORMING SAME Filed Jan. 1l, 1960 'T Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTORS ATTORNEY April 24, 1962 P. L. BUNDY ETAL REF'OLDABLE CELLULAR CARTON AND BLANK FOR FORMING SAME Filed Jan. l1, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 /40 BY Q' ATTORNEY April 24, 1962 P. BUNDY ETAL REFOLDABLE CELLULAR CARTON AND BLANK FOR FORMING SAME Filed Jan. 11,v 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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April 24, `1962 P. BUNDY ETAL REFOLDABLE CELLULAR CARTON AND BLANK FOR FORMING SAME Filed Jan. l1, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS m n @a w 2 L 63 Z w f M m a 5/ .da m y W.. Z La 4 U 7a a .n

anQCarZes/yoo/ BY CF@ QW ATTORNEY REFOLDABLE CELLULAR CARTON AND BLANK FOR FORMING SAME '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 1l, 1960 M On. Ta e om w G Z .,m /Mn ,I DM V7 4 d /M e ATTORNEY Amir-24, 1962 P. l.. BUNDY ETAL REFOLDABLE CELLULAR CARTON AND BLANK FOR FORMING SAME 7 Sheets-Sheet, 7

vFiled Jan. l1, 1960 aha7 @Aa rZes HOOC States This invention relates broadly to carrying devices, and more specifically to refoldable siX-cell cartons especially adapted for carrying packaged items such as bottles of soft drinks, or bottles or cans of beer, such cartons being customarily formed from cardboard.

Cardboard carrying cartons for siX bottles or cans of beer, for example, have been proposed and marketed in the past. However, the great bulk of such cartons have not been refoldable for reuse, but rather have been of the one use type where the bottles or cans are sealed in the carrier at the packing point so as to require destruction of the carrier to remove packaged items. Where the carrier is of a type permitting removal of the packaged items and refolding of the carrier for return and reuse, such carrier in some cases has not separated the packaged items out of contact with each other and this has led to breakage where glass items were involved. Other carriers have used excessive amounts of cardboard so as to be relatively costly, and still others have been difficult to form ready for use. It was a recognition of these problems and diiculties and the need of an eicient Iefoldable carrier with a carrying handle and separately partitioned cells which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel one-piece blank from which the carton can be easily and inexpensively machine constructed in normally folded-Hat form for shipment and storage.

Another object is to make novel provision in the blank for providing the carton with an unusually strong handle construction.

A further object is to provide a strong and eiective carton embodying novel structure for partitioning it longitudinally and transversely.

A still further object is to provide the carton with a novel partition between the center pair of cells and which is formed from tab cutout portions of the cross partitions which in turn are formed from diagonally opposite portions of the carton blank.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the blank and foldable cellular carton formed therefrom as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the'claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in `detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE 1V is a plan view of the blank after applying glue to certain areas thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank after partially folding it and applying glue to other areas.,

FIGURE 2a is an edge view of FIGURE 2, as seen from the adjacent edge of same.

FIGURES 2b, 2c and 2d are detail sections as taken `on the correspondingly numbered lines of FIGURE 2,

looking in the direction of the arrows.`

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank after further folding it from the FIGURE 2 position and applying glue to additional areas.

FIGURE 3a is an edge View of FIGURE 3, as seen from the adjacent edge of same.

FIGURES 3b and 3c are detail sections as taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view showing the blank completely folded into a flat structure to be openedV to form a complete carton.

FIGURE 4a is a sectional view as taken on line la- 4a of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, but showing various elements sprung apart for better illustration.

FIGURE 4b is a section as taken through the handle structure, on line lb-4b of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the reverse side of the folded-dat structure.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the carton in readiness for use, as taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section as taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURES 8, 9 and l0 are vertical transverse sections as taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of FIG- URE 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE ll is a partially sectioned perspective view showing half of the carton from which the other half has been torn away.

The construction disclosed is preferred and will be specifically described, but attention is invited to the possibility of making variations within the obvious spirit and scope of the invention as illustrated and described.

The blank, as manufactured, is shaped as shown in FIGURE l. The four stippled areas in this view, however, represent glue which is not applied at the time of manufacture lbut at the time of forming a carton from the blank.

The blank includes a substantially rectangular bottom panel 12 which is divided by a central longitudinal fold line 13 into two halves 14 and 14a.

One rectangular side panel t15 is joined along a fold line 16 to one longitudinal edge of the bottom panel 12; and a second rectangular side panel 15a is joined along a fold line 16a to the other longitudinal edge of the bottom panel 12.

Two rectangular end panels 17 and 18 are joined along fold lines 19 and 20 to the ends of the side panel 15, respectively; and two additional end panels 17a and 18a are joined along fold lines 19a and 20w to the ends of the side panel 15a, respectively.

Two longitudinal partition panels 21 and 22 are joined along fold lines 23 and 24, respectively, to the edges of the end panels 17 and 18 remote from the side panel 15; and two additional longitudinal partition panels 21a and 22a are joinedalong fold lines 23a and 24a, respectively, to the edges of the end panels 17a and 18a remote from -the side panel 15a.

Two transverseA partition panels 25 and 26 are joined along fold lines 27 and 28, respectively, to the edges of the longitudinal partition panels 21 and 22 remote from the end panels 17 and 18; and two additional transverse partition panels 25a and 26a are joined along fold lines 27a and 28a, respectively, to the edges of the longitudinal partition panels 21a and 22a remote from the end Vpanels 17a and 18a.

Two anchoring flanges 29 and 30 are joined along fold lines 31 and 32, respectively, to the outer ends of the transverse partition panels 25 and 26; and two additional anchoring flanges 29a and 30a are joined along fold lines 31a and 32a, respectively, to the outer ends of the transverse partition panels a and 26a.

A longitudinal partition tongue 33 is integral with the longitudinal partition panel 21 and is cut at 34 almost entirely from the contiguous transverse partition panel 25; and an additional longitudinal partition tongue 33a is integral with the longitudinal partition panel 22a and is cut at 34a almost entirely from the contiguous transverse partition panel 26a.

A handle-attaching lug 35 is integral with a side edge of the longitudinal partition panel 21; and a similar lug 36 is integral with a side edge of the longitudinal partition panel 22. Both lugs 35 and 36 are at the longitudinal edge portion of the blank which is disposed upwardly in the completed carton.

One elongated handle side wall 37 is joined at one of its ends to one edge of the lug 36 along a fold line 38 which is alined with the fold line 24 connecting the adjacent panels 18 and 22. The handle side wall 37 is severed at 39 almost entirely from the adjacent edges of the side panel 15 and end panel 18; and a second handle side wall 40 is joined along a fold line 41 to the wall 37 to fold toward the latter. The second handle side wall half 40 is preferably notched at 42 to facilitate linger reception in the completed carton. To provide the half 37 with a similar notch in the completed carton, this half 37 has transverse slits 43. When the handle portion 44 between the slits 43 is forced laterally out of position, it leaves a notch in the handle wall 37 to register with the notch 42.

An elongated handle-reinforcing tongue 45 is integrally joined to the edge 46 of the lug 36 and projects away from the handle side wall 37.

The longitudinal partition panels 21 and 21a are notched to provide them with hooks 47; and one end of the bottom panel 12 is widely notched at 48 to engage said hooks 47 in the completed carton.

The first step in forming a carton from the above described blank is to apply four areas of glue, as shown by the stippling in FIGURE l. Two areas 49 and 49a are applied to the side panels 15 and 15a in positions to be engaged by the anges 30 and 30a, respectively, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 2a. Two areas 50 and 50a, FIGURE l, are applied to the handle side wall 37 in positions to be engaged by the lug 36 and handle reinforcing tongue 45, respectively, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 2b. Then, after thus having applied glue in the noted areas, operations shown in FIGURES 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are performed. In these views, the panels 22 and 26, the lug 36 and the tongue 45 have been jointly folded over on the fold lines 24 and 38 and secured by the glue 49, 50 and 50a; the panels 22a and 26a and the tongue 33a have been jointly folded over on the fold line 24a and secured by the glue 49a, and the panels 25 and 25a have been folded over on the fold lines 27 and 27a, respectively, but not secured. While folding the panel 25, the tongue 33 has been held and thus remains in the plane of the panel 21. After the folding operations depicted in FIGURE 2, glue 51 and 51a is applied to the flanges 29 and 29a, respectively, and glue 52 is applied to the uncovered end of the handle wall 37.

While the various elements at the right of FIGURE 2 remain as shown in this view, operations shown in FIG- URES 3, 3a, 3b, and 3c, are performed.

`In these views, the panels 17, 21 and 25, the lug 35 and the tongue 33 have been jointly folded over on the fold line 19; the glue 51 has secured the flange 29 on the edge of panel 25 to the underlying side panel 15'; and the glue 52 has secured the lug 35 to the underlying end of the handle wall 37. Also, the panels 17a, 21a and 25a have been jointly folded over on the fold line 19a and the glue 51a has secured the flange 29a on the edge panel 25a to the underlying side panel 15a. After performance of the folding operations depicted in FIGURE 3, glue 53 and 53a is applied to the panels 22 and 21a, respectively; glue 54 and 55 is applied to the lugs 35 and 36, respectively; and glue 56 is applied to the tongue 33.

With the partly folded and glued blank in the condition shown in FIGURE 3 further operations shown in FIGURES 4, 4a and 4b are performed. In these views, the bottom panel half 14a has been folded over upon the half 14 and has carried with it the panels shown in the lower half of the blank of FIGURE l, including those showing in FIGURE 3 which are 17a, 21a, 25a, 22a and 26a, and the tongue 33a. The panel 22a has thus become secured by the glue 53 upon the underlying panel 22; the panel 21a has become secured by the glue 53a upon the underlying panel 21; and the tongue 33a, still restrictedly connected with the panel 26a, has become secured upon the underlying tongue 33. The handle side wall 40 has also been folded onto the lugs 35 and 36 and handlereinforcing tongue 45, and has become secured to said lugs by the glue 54 and 55.

A folded-flat structure has thus been produced in which the elements are related as shown in FIGURES 4, 4a, 4b and 5. Attention, however, is invited to the fact that various elements have been shown in FIGURE 4a as excessively separated, for better illustration. The foldedilat structure is held in ilat form due to the fact that the tongue 33a is still restrictedly attached to the panel 22a, as in FIGURE 3, and the fact that the handle side wall 37 is still restrictedly connected to the side panel 15 and to the end panel 18, as seen in FIGURE 5, thereby preventing the relative angular movements of panels necessary in opening up the structure into carton form. When opposing hand pressures are exerted inwardly on opposite ends of the structure, however, this structure expands laterally into carton form and breaks loose from the panels 15 and 18 but, of course, remains connected with the lugs 35 and 36 on the panels 21 and 22, respectively. As the at structure laterally expands, the tongue 33a also breaks loose from the panel 26a. When the structure has been fully expanded just past full carton forni and bottom 12 engaged with hooks 47 and then Yallowed to move back into full carton form (FIGURES 6 to ll) the hooks 47 which are thus engaged with the carton bottom will prevent spring-back of elements toward the folded at position. When the carton is held in fully expanded position by engaging the carton bottom 12 with the hooks 47 the carton can then be filled with containers by automatic machinery and yet when emptied can be again folded flat for storage and ultimate reuse.

The complete carton (FIGURES 6 to ll) is longitudinally partitioned by the longitudinal partition panels 21, 21a, 22 and 22a and the longitudinal partition tongues 33 and 33a, which require no extra stock since they are formed from portions of transverse partitions, and is transversely partitioned by the transverse partition panels 25, 25a, 26 and 26a.

The handle structure is centrally disposed with the lugs 35 and 36 and the reinforcing tongue 45 sandwiched between the handle side walls 37 and 40, producing a stiff and strong construction. The flap 44 of the side wall 37 is, of course, forced through the notch 42 of the side wall 40 and turned upwardly to protect the fingers of a person carrying the loaded carton with the fingers inserted through said notch 42 and the corresponding notch left in the wall 37 when said flap 44 is forced through said notch 42 to the position clearly shown in FIGURES 6, 9, and 10.

From the foregoing, it will be seen the novel construction has been disclosed for simply and economically attaining the desired ends. However, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the spirit and scope of the invention as shown and described.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the blank and carton formed therefrom as herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. In a blank from which to form a flat foldable cellular carton, a substantially rectangular bottom panel, two rectangular side panels connected along fold lines with the longitudinal edges respectively of said bottom panel, four rectangular end panels connected along fold lines to the ends respectively of said side panels, four rectangular longitudinal partition panels connected respectively along fold lines to the edges of said end panels remote from said side panels, tour rectangular transverse partition panels connected respectively along fold lines to the edges of said longitudinal partition panels remote from said end panels, four anchoring flanges connected respectively along fold lines to the edges of said transverse partition panels remote from said longitudinal partition panels, and two longitudinal partition tongues at least partially severed from two of said transverse partition panels and integral with the adjacent two of said longitudinal partition panels; together with two handleattaching lugs integral respectively with the two longitudinal partition panels at one longitudinal edge portion of the blank, one handle side wall extending longitudinally of the blank, said one handle side wall having one of its ends connected to one of said lugs along a fold line which is substantially alined with the fold line connecting the adjacent longitudinal partition panel and end panel, said one handle side wall being severed at least partially from the last mentioned end panel and the connected sideV panel, a handle-reinforcing tongue integral with said one of said lugs and projecting away from said one handle side wall, and a second handle side wall connected along a longitudinal fold line with said one handle side wall to fold toward the latter; said lugs, said handle side walls and said handle-reinforcing tongue being so related that in the completed carton said lugs will lie between the ends of said handle side walls, and said tongue will also lie between said handle side walls and will extend from said one of said lugs substantially to the other of said lugs, said handle side walls being notched for finger reception; whereby a carton formed from said blank will comprise two side walls projecting upwardly from a bottom, two end walls extending between said side walls, a longitudinal partition formed partly by said longitudinal partition panels secured against each other and partly by said longitudinal partition tongues secured in overlapped relation, and transverse partitions formed by said transverse partition panels and anchored by said anchoring anges to said side walls.

2. A carton forming blank having a side panel, two end panels connected along fold lines with the ends of said side panel respectively, two longitudinal partition panels connected along fold lines with the edges of said end panels remote from said side panel respectively, two handle-attaching lugs integral respectively with said longitudinal partition panels, said lugs being positioned to project upwardly in the completed carton, one handle side wall extending longitudinally of the blank, said one handle Side wall having one of its ends connected to one of said lugs along a fold line which is substantially alined with the fold line connecting the adjacent longitudinal partition panel and end panel, said one handle side wall being severed at least partially from the last mentioned end panel and from said side panel, and a second handle side wall connected along a longitudinal fold line with said one handle side wall to fold toward the latter; said lugs and said handle side walls being so related that in the completed carton said lugs will lie between the ends of said handle side walls, said handle side walls being notched for linger reception.

3. A carton forming blank having a side panel, two end panels connected along fold lines with the ends of said side panel respectively, two longitudinal partition panels connected along fold lines with the edges of said end panels remote from said side panel respectively, two handle-attaching lugs integral respectively with said longitudinal partition panels, said lugs being positioned to project upwardly in the completed carton, one handle side wall extending longitudinally of the blank, said one handle side wall having one of its ends connected to one of said lugs along a fold line which is substantially alined with the fold line connecting the adjacent longitudinal partition panel and end panel, said one handle side wall being severed at least partially from the last mentioned end panel and from said side panel, a handlereinforcing tongue integral with said one of said lugs and projecting away from said one handle side wall, and a second handle side wall connected along a longitudinal fold line with said one handle side Wall to fold toward the latter; said lugs, said handle side walls and said handle reinforcing tongue being so related that in the cornpleted carton said lugs will lie between the ends of said handle side walls, and said handle-reinforcing tongue will also lie between said handle side walls and will extend from said one of said lugs substantially to the other of said lugs, said handle side wall being notched for nger reception.

4. A six-cell carton comprising a substantially rectangular bottom, one side wall connected to one longitudinal edge of said bottom, two end wall panels connected respectively to the ends of said one side wall and extending inwardly therefrom to the central longitudinal portion of said bottom, two longitudinal partition panels connected to said end panels respectively and extending toward each other along said central longitudinal portion of said bottom, two transverse partition panels connected respectively to said longitudinal partition panels and extending therefrom to said one side wall, said transverse partition panels having anchoring flanges secured to said one side wall; a second side wall connected to the other longitudinal edge of said bottom, two additional end wall panels connected respectively to the ends of said second side wall and extending inwardly therefrom to said central longitudinal portion of said bottom, two additional longitudinal partition panels connected respectively to said two additional end wall panels, said two additional longitudinal partition panels being substantially coextensive with the first mentioned longitudinal partition panels and being secured thereto in side-to-side contact, two additional transverse partition panels connected respectively to said two additional longitudinal partition panels and extending therefrom to said second side wall, said two additional transverse partition panels having anchoring flanges secured to said second side wall, and two longitudinal partition tongues integral with and substantially centered on the hinged edge of two of the aforesaid longitudinal partition panels respectively and with the adjacent ends of same secured to each other in side-toside contact, said partition tongues being respectively cut from two of the aforesaid transverse partition panels, intermediate the ends of their hinged edge at said longitudinal partition.

5. A six-cell carton comprising a substantially rectangular bottom, one side wall connected to one longitudinal edge of said bottom, two end wall panels connected respectively to the ends of said one side wall and extending inwardly therefrom to the central longitudinal portion of said bottom, two longitudinal partition panels connected to said end panels respectively and extending toward each other along said central longitudinal portion of said bottom, two transverse partition panels connected respectively to said longitudinal partition panels and extending therefrom to said one side wall, said transverse partition panels having anchoring flanges secured to said one side wall; a second side wall connected to the other longitudinal edge of said bottom, two additional end Wall panels connected respectively to the ends of said second side wall and extending inwardly therefrom to said central longitudinal `portion of said bottom, two additional longitudinal partition panels connected respectively to said two additional end wall panels, said two additional longitudinal partition panels being substantially coextensive with the first mentioned longitudinal partition panels and being secured thereto in a side-to-side contact, two additional transverse partition panels connected respectively to said two additional longitudinal partition panels and extending therefrom to said second side wall, said two additional transverse partition panels having anchoring flanges secured to said second side wall, and two longitudinal overlapped partition tongues integral with two of the aforesaid longitudinal partitionpanels respectively and secured together in side-to-side contact, said partition tongues being cut from two of the aforesaid transverse partition panels respectively; together with two lugs integral with and projecting upwardly from the first mentioned longitudinal partition panels respectively, and a longitudinal handle having two connected side walls, said lugs being disposed between and secured to the ends of said handle side walls respectively, said handle side walls being notched for linger reception.

6. A six-cell carton comprising a substantially rectangular bottom, one side Wall connected to one longitudinal edge of said bottom, two end wall panels connected respectively to the ends of said one side wall and extending inwardly therefrom to the central longitudinal portion of said bottom, two longitudinal partition panels connected to said end panels respectively and extending toward each other along said central longitudinal portion of said bottom, two transverse partition panels connected respectively to said longitudinal partition panels and extending therefrom to said one side wall, said transverse partition panels having anchoring flanges secured to said one side wall; a second side wall connected to the other longitudinal edge of said bottom, two additional end wall panels connected respectively to the ends of said second side wall and extending inwardly therefrom to said central longitudinal portion of said bottom, two additional longitudinal partition panels connected respectively to said two additional end wall panels, said two additional longitudinal partition panels being substantially coextensive '8 with the first mentioned longitudinal partition panels and being secured thereto in a side-to-side contact, two additional transverse partition panels vconnected respectively to said two additional longitudinal partition panels and extending therefrom to said second side wall, said two additional transverse partition panels having anchoring flanges secured to said second side wall, and two longitudinal overlapped partition tongues integral with two of the aforesaid longitudinal partition panels respectively and secured 10 together in side-to-side contact, said partition tongues being cut from two of the aforesaid transverse partition panels respectively; together with two lugs integral with and projecting upwardly from the rst mentioned longitudinal partition panels respectively, and a longitudinal handle having two connected side walls, said lugs being disposed between and secured to the ends of said handle side walls respectively, said handle side walls being notched for linger reception, and a handle-reinforcing tongue integral with one of said lugs, said handle-reinforcing tongue being secured longitudinally between said handle side walls.

7. A carton having as part thereof a central longitudinal partition with two lugs projecting upwardly from the ends of said partition respectively, a handle-reinforcing tongue integral with one of said lugs and extending substantially to the other of said lugs, and a longitudinal handle having two connected side walls disposed at opposite sides of said lugs and tongue, said lugs, tongue and handle side walls being secured together in fixed relation, the lower edges of said handle side walls being notched for linger reception.

8. A structure as specified in claim 7, in which one end of one of said handle side walls is integral with said one of said lugs at the edge of the latter remote from that integrally connected to said reinforcing tongue.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gilbert Dec. 7, 1954 2,755,965 Ringler July 24, 1956 

